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Comment: LAPD Pools–and Schools–the Media It Wants

The peaceable eviction of the Los Angeles civic plaza Occupiers provided the latest evidence that mainstream media’s craving for inside access and official respect leaves uncompromising and resourceful reporting to those without the credentials, says Stephen Box.

As the anticipated battle between the LAPD and Occupy LA turned into a tightly orchestrated and well-choreographed display of professionalism and principle, the real struggle turned out to be one between the Main Stream Media and Citizen Journalism.

As the MSM kowtowed to the LAPD and traded their Fourth Estate cards for LAPD Press Passes, it was the public who fed the world with words, experiences, pictures, videos, commentary, narrative, interviews, and perspective. The tools were cell phones and mini-cams which fed Twitter, Facebook, and UStream.